Tips for Healthier Roadtrips

Road trips are great ways to see the country closeup and personal.  They can be a less expensive alternative to paying for airfare, especially abroad.  Hopping in the car and cruising down the highway for vacation is an American tradition.  Unfortunately, they can also be an obstacle to sticking with a healthy diet.

Road trip snacks are all part of the experience, but as a recent article from Health.com notes, being in the car for hours can encourage eating foods you would normally stay miles away from.  Chips, packaged pastries, and fast food, make up only a small part of the junk food mine field that travelers find themselves indulging in.

So how do you take an authentic road trip without feeling like you spent all your vacation calories just getting to your destination?  It can be difficult, especially depending where you are, but there are ways to at least mitigate the damage.

The easiest way to avoid highway rest stops and gas station fare is to stock up on delicious, healthy snacks before you even hit the road.  Bring fruit, granola, or vegetables and hummus to help satisfy your munchies without eating a ton of unnecessary fat or calories.  High fiber foods like grapes and apples will help keep you refreshed during long hours of driving while avoiding that lethargic feeling that often accompanies sugary snacks.

If you don’t have time to pack and find yourself at a gas station or fast food joint, there are still ways to keep things in check.  A good pro tip for grabbing snacks at gas stations or convenience stores is to check the refrigerated section first.  Here you’ll often find yogurt, string cheese, hummus, and other less processed foods.  If you don’t trust your gas station’s refrigerated fare look for whole wheat bagged snacks.

Anyone who has taken a long roadtrip knows that try as you might, it’s almost impossible to avoid fast food stops.  When you do finally end up at McDonald’s or Burger King don’t assume you have to pig out.  They do offer salads, grilled chicken options, and sides of fruit.

All in all, if you make an effort to be conscious of what you’re eating, you can avoid totally diet decimation on the road.